Alliance to Save Energy - Using less. Doing more.https://ase.org/blog
Blog to Save EnergyenThe Biggest Source of Carbon Emissions or the Best Opportunity? A Q&amp;A on the Future of Transportation with Austin Brown.https://ase.org/blog/biggest-source-carbon-emissions-or-best-opportunity-qa-future-transportation-austin-brown
<p><em>Dr. Austin Brown is the Executive Director of the UC Davis Policy Institute for Energy, Environment, and the Economy – and an expert on the intersection of transportation and energy policy. He’s been an integral advisor to the work of the Alliance’s </em><a href="/alliance-50x50-transportation"><em>50x50 Commission</em></a><em>. The Blog to Save Energy caught up with him recently to hear his outlook on coming changes in American transportation.</em></p><p><strong>Alliance:</strong> For a few years now, transportation has been a bigger source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. than electric power generation. How did we get here?</p><p><strong>Brown:</strong> Over the past decade, we have seen a lot of focus on the previous #1 emitting sector, electricity. These efforts have spurred a long-term trend toward cheaper and better renewable power. Progress in energy efficiency has also meant that total electric demand has been flat even with economic growth.</p><p>While focusing on energy, though, we neglected transportation. Over the last few years, driving and freight demand both increased and there has been a shift (facilitated by low gas prices) toward larger, less efficient vehicles. Hence despite great strides in electric vehicle (EV) deployment, the transportation sector has taken the dubious “number-one emitter” honor from the electricity sector.</p><p><strong>Alliance:</strong> A few decades from now, when we look back (we hope!) at the deep reductions in energy use and carbon emission from our transportation sector, what do you think will have been the biggest pieces of how it happened?</p><p><strong>Brown:</strong> Here’s where we get to the (mostly) good news. There are so many reasons to be excited by the future of transportation and how it can help us reduce energy use, oil dependence, and emissions.</p><p>Item number one is electrification of transportation. Electrifying personal light-duty vehicles (cars and light trucks), in particular, is looking more doable than ever before. Batteries and EV technology are improving at a remarkable rate. EVs are likely to become even more popular as people become more familiar with the many options out there and see how great EV performance can be. New mobility technology, pooling of rides, and vehicle automation also have the potential to make personal transportation better than what we have today in every way.</p><p>The daunting part is just how far we have to go and how big the problem is. Personal light-duty vehicles contribute about half of U.S. transportation emissions, but avoiding the worst consequences of global climate change requires reducing U.S. transportation emissions by 80% or more. So we need to pay attention to every transportation subsector, including heavy-duty trucks, rail, and ships. We also need to get serious about providing more and better options for people to get around without driving alone, such as via transit and active transportation (walking and bicycling).</p><p><strong>Alliance:</strong> We’ve seen the numbers showing public transit ridership dropping in a number of U.S. metro areas, which is troubling from an energy use and emissions perspective. Do you have a grasp of what’s going on there, and where do you think this trend is headed?</p><p><strong>Brown:</strong> Most transit markets have seen significant declines in ridership over the last decade. It’s fashionable to blame new mobility companies (like Lyft and Uber) that are providing cheap and easy ways to get a ride. These companies have indeed taken some riders from transit in some markets, but they are also offering a valuable new transportation choice for riders.</p><p>The real problem is that we have neglected transit as a priority for decades. Most of the transit declines we’re seeing started long before new mobility showed up. Policies such as funding roads from general funds rather than user fees act as huge subsidies to the personal automobile. Transit suffers as a result.</p><p>Perhaps the most problematic idea out there is that cities can neglect or get rid of their transit because new mobility will be able to provide the same service without public funding. That’s just wrong. Transit can do much to improve transportation equity and efficiency. Backing away from those benefits is the wrong move.</p><p><strong>Alliance:</strong> You’ve thought a lot about autonomous vehicles and the effects they could have on our energy use – anywhere from potentially significant decreases to big increases. What’s going to determine what scenario we actually get to? Is this mostly about federal, state, or local policies?</p><p><strong>Brown:</strong> Researchers don’t yet know whether automated vehicles will increase or decrease emissions on net. A key question we need to answer is: will automated vehicles enable a future where most mobility is shared and electric, or will they just facilitate even greater urban sprawl and more vehicle miles traveled?</p><p>Fortunately, we get to choose the answer to this question as a society. Smart policy can ensure that we realize the benefits automated vehicles have to offer while minimizing adverse consequences. Federal policy should include flexible and science-based standards that ensure consistency across jurisdictional boundaries while empowering state and local governments to prioritize their own transportation goals. State and local governments need to implement policy mechanisms that prioritize transportation equity, sustainability, and safety, and need to rigorously track performance for continued improvement.</p><p>We can build a better transportation system if we focus on increasing consumer choice and aligning policy to support the transportation modes that benefit society as a whole – including through much lower emissions.</p>Fri, 24 May 2019 10:54:42 EDTAustin Brown, Ben Somberg1296624New ASHRAE Zero Energy Standard Could Bring Industry into Agreementhttps://ase.org/blog/new-ashrae-zero-energy-standard-could-bring-industry-agreement
<p><em>by Sheila J. Hayter, P.E. – ASHRAE 2018-2019 President</em></p><p>The realization of a zero energy building that is evaluated, measured and documented to established criteria is a critical mission for building developers, building owners, industries, governments, utilities, certification bodies, and code-bodies alike.</p><p>Residential and commercial buildings place a substantial burden on the electrical grid, accounting for 40% of global energy consumption, and are in effect a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. Although there are multiple initiatives underway to establish a definition of zero energy buildings, there is no recognized consensus standard that determines if a building is a zero energy building. A new ASHRAE standard could help resolve this issue and bring the industry into agreement.&nbsp;</p><h6>Process to Create Zero Energy Building Standard Launched This Year</h6><p>During the 2019 ASHRAE Winter Conference in Atlanta,<a href="https://www.ashrae.org/technical-resources/standards-and-guidelines/titles-purposes-and-scopes#spc228">&nbsp;Standard 228P,&nbsp;<em>Standard Method of Evaluating Zero Energy Building Performance</em></a><em>,&nbsp;</em>was approved, launching the process of creating the standard. ASHRAE is currently seeking members to participate on the Standard 228P project committee.</p><p>The standard will provide guidance on how to measure a building’s zero energy goals. It is expected to set requirements for evaluating whether a building or group of buildings meets a clear definition of zero energy, as well as provide a consistent method of expressing qualifications for zero energy buildings associated with the design of new buildings and the operation of existing buildings.</p><p>ASHRAE is an ANSI Audited Designator and the standard will be developed through ASHRAE’s ANSI-approved consensus process. The process allows for open meetings and public reviews to comment on for materially interested parties.</p><h6>New Standard Will Apply to Range of Buildings</h6><p>Standard 228P will apply to existing buildings, new buildings, groups of buildings, or portions of buildings – and will include calculation methodology, and expression of the building(s) zero energy status using performance metrics defined in <a href="https://www.techstreet.com/standards/ashrae-105-2014?product_id=1873278">ASHRAE Standard 105, “Standard Methods of Determining, Expressing, and Comparing Building Energy Performance and Greenhouse Gas Emissions”</a> or by the authority having jurisdiction.</p><p>In addition, the Standard 228P will address transportation within the zero energy building or group of buildings, as well as plug loads for electric vehicles.</p><p>While it is important to understand the encompassing parameters of the standard, it is also necessary to understand what it will not apply to, such as the establishment of building energy performance goals or limits; design guidance or design requirements; embodied energy of building materials and systems; and transportation to and from a building.&nbsp;This standard is also not intended to and will not be used to circumvent any safety, health, or environmental requirements.</p><p>“Numerous organizations are defining and have defined what makes a building zero-energy and now is a good time for everyone to come together in agreement,” says Keith Emerson, P.E., Life Member ASHRAE, and proposed chair of SPC 228P.</p><p><em>Persons interested in serving on this ASHRAE project committee can find </em><a href="http://www.ashrae.org/standards-forms-procedures"><em>more information and membership forms</em></a><em>, and can <a href="https://www.ashrae.org/technical-resources/free-resources/listserves">sign up to stay abreast</a> of all ASHRAE standards activities, including call for members, public review comments, and to be added to the ASHRAE Standards Action listserv.</em></p><p><em>Photo: National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Research Support Facility, a showcase for energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. Photo by Dennis Schroeder / NREL.</em></p>Wed, 15 May 2019 09:55:36 EDTSheila Hayter1296618Developing the New Building Energy Code to Advance Efficiency Is a Marathon, Not a Sprint… But We Are Off to a Good Starthttps://ase.org/blog/developing-new-building-energy-code-advance-efficiency-marathon-not-sprint-we-are-good-start
<p>Less than a week after the first round of hearings on hundreds of proposals to develop the 2021 version of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) wrapped up, there is reason for optimism that we may get a model energy code that will help make buildings more efficient. But the code development process has months and months to go, so there are big challenges ahead. Our ultimate aim: a resounding “yes” from <a href="https://www.iccsafe.org/">International Code Council</a> (ICC) Governmental Members (GMs) when they vote in November to approve a model code that delivers considerable monthly utility bill savings for homeowners, renters, and businesses, as well as significant greenhouse gas emissions reductions.</p><p>There were two codes under consideration at the IECC hearings: one for residential and low-rise multifamily buildings and a second for larger residential and commercial buildings. These codes will eventually be adopted and enforced by states and local governments, which means new and renovated buildings will be required to comply at some point after 2021. I provided a bit more background on the IECC and its importance in federal energy efficiency policy in a codes <a href="/blog/will-2019-be-year-building-energy-codes-take-next-leap-forward-we-hope-so">preview post</a> earlier this year.</p><p>The first code up for consideration – the residential IECC – was hotly debated during the first half of the 11 days of hearings in Albuquerque that concluded last week. At issue were proposals to improve the energy efficiency of individual building components like windows and wall insulation as well as sets of “flexible” options to give builders some compliance alternatives. The <a href="https://energyefficientcodes.org/">Energy-Efficient Codes Coalition</a> (EECC), created by the Alliance in 2007 to help advance energy efficiency in the IECC, led the way in support of these proposals while also mustering strong testimony in opposition to a litany of proposed rollbacks and exchanges to trade-off permanent thermal envelope measures for short-lived and removable equipment and renewable energy (i.e., solar photovoltaic (PV)) and storage installations.</p><p>The ICC <a href="https://www.iccsafe.org/wp-content/uploads/com_coun/roster_RECDC.pdf">Residential Energy Code Committee</a> approved a series of incremental improvements in fenestration, duct sealing, and lighting, for example, and consistently rejected rollback and trade-off proposals, which should help preserve and improve energy efficiency in the final version of the 2021 IECC. The proposals approved by the committee still need to be finalized after a second set of hearings in October and during an online vote of ICC GMs in November. As you can see, the marathon metaphor is apt.</p><p>Attention turned to commercial buildings after a new committee convened and took the stage last week. A parade of proposals to roll back energy efficiency or allow it to be traded off for solar and energy storage were systematically dismissed by the committee, which cast some early decisive votes that set a very positive tone in favor of energy efficiency. EECC was once again front and center and the <a href="https://www.iccsafe.org/wp-content/uploads/com_coun/roster_CECDC.pdf">Commercial Energy Code Committee</a> responded by approving a run of proposals that, if passed by a majority of ICC GMs, will eventually deliver big savings by providing building designers with more energy efficiency options and improve insulation, lighting, windows, air barriers, controls, and air and duct sealing throughout commercial buildings.</p><p>The commercial IECC committee was also more receptive than its residential counterpart to an Alliance priority and top recommendation of the <a href="/alliance-50x50-transportation">50x50 Commission</a>: requiring new buildings to be built with pre-installed <a href="/blog/electric-cars-are-here-so-why-are-we-still-building-homes-arent-ready-charging-them">electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure</a>. The Alliance worked in close partnership with the <a href="http://www.swenergy.org/">Southwest Energy Efficiency Project</a>, <a href="https://newbuildings.org/">New Buildings Institute</a>, <a href="http://www.eei.org/">Edison Electric Institute</a>, and the <a href="http://www.nema.org/">National Electrical Manufacturers Association</a> to build a case for EV-ready buildings – to prepare for the soon-to-be-here transformation of the U.S. transportation sector. A joint proposal was overwhelmingly approved 12-3 by the commercial committee.</p><p>Although the Residential Energy Code Committee voted down similar EV-ready proposals, the Alliance will continue to push ahead so a revised version can be up for a vote in November when ICC GMs make the final call on what is in the 2021 IECC.</p><p>In the building energy code development process, steady pacing and a focus on the finish line is critical. It is a long game and the Alliance and EECC have been training all off-season. It never hurts to get off to a good start, though, because clearing early hurdles like defeating rollbacks and trade-off proposals puts energy efficiency in a better position for the rest of the course to come out on top.</p>Wed, 15 May 2019 12:54:54 EDTDaniel Bresette1296619Beyond the Headlines of Gridlock, Congress Makes Quiet Progress on Energy Efficiencyhttps://ase.org/blog/beyond-headlines-gridlock-congress-makes-quiet-progress-energy-efficiency
<p>High-profile stories about Congress today frequently focus on the fights over big legislation and the gridlock that results. But beyond the headlines we are seeing quiet, steady progress on energy efficiency policy.</p><p>We are keeping an eye on bills to encourage purchases of more efficient vehicles, help prepare tomorrow’s energy workforce, and incentivize homeowners to invest in improving energy efficiency, among others. Here are some of the key developments this year so far.</p><h6>Bipartisan Senate Group Encourages Efficient Transportation</h6><p>The <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/1094/text">Driving America Forward Act</a>, introduced in April, is a bipartisan bill sponsored by Alliance Honorary Advisors Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), together with Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and lead sponsor Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.). The bill keeps tax incentives for consumers who buy electric vehicles in place past their current expiration. If it became law, it would <a href="/news/alliance-welcomes-bipartisan-bill-update-electric-vehicle-tax-credit">help more Americans buy these energy-efficient vehicles</a> and improve the market for them in the future.</p><h6>House Lawmakers Take Up Several Energy Efficiency Proposals</h6><p>The <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1315">Blue Collar to Green Collar Jobs Development Act of 2019</a> is a bigger version of bipartisan legislation that passed the House in 2017. Introduced by Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Energy Subcommittee, this bill would focus on training Americans for careers in the evolving energy industry, especially underserved groups like women, people of color, veterans, and unemployed energy workers. The bill is a top priority for Chairman Rush this Congress and both Democrats and Republicans recognize that energy workforce development is a pressing issue, so there are ample reasons to be optimistic that this bill will continue to move forward.&nbsp;</p><p>So far, the Energy and Commerce Committee has held two hearings on this legislation and Chairman Rush has been vocal about his desire to work with his Republican counterparts to improve the bill as it moves forward in the legislative process. The Alliance sent a <a href="/sites/ase.org/files/chairman_bobby_rush.2019.02.27._letter_re_h.r._1315.pdf">letter</a> thanking Chairman Rush for his work and expressing hope that members from both sides of the aisle will work together to strengthen the bill.</p><p>There are more bills we expect to see progress on in the coming months. Reps. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and David McKinley (R-W.Va.), both Alliance honorary advisors, have introduced the <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/2043">Home Owner Managing Energy Savings (HOMES) Act</a>, which would provide rebates to homeowners who invest in energy efficiency improvements. Another bipartisan pair, Alliance Honorary Advisor Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) and Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-Calif.), introduced the a bill that would create a pilot program to improve the energy efficiency of water and wastewater systems, <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/2019/">H.R. 2019</a>. And Reps. Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.) and Marc Veasey (D-Tex.) introduced a <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/2088?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22H.R.+2088%22%5D%7D&amp;s=5&amp;r=1">bill</a> that would provide funding to a DOE program that gives money to communities to manage job-creating energy efficiency and conservation projects.</p><p>These bills were part of a series addressed in a <a href="https://energycommerce.house.gov/committee-activity/hearings/hearing-on-investing-in-america-s-energy-infrastructure-improving-energy">hearing</a> before the Energy and Commerce Committee last month and are expected to advance to the markup stage soon.</p><h6>Lawmakers on Both Sides of the Aisle Encourage Federal Energy Efficiency Investments</h6><p>Bipartisan groups of elected officials are also stepping up to fight for essential federal energy efficiency programs. A group of senators from both parties, led by the Alliance’s Honorary Chair Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), sent colleagues a <a href="/sites/ase.org/files/fy20_targeted_ee_letter_signed_0.pdf">letter</a> in April to urge increased funding &nbsp;for several energy efficiency programs at the Department of Energy. Sen. Collins and Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), joined by 44 colleagues, sent a <a href="https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-reed-lead-bipartisan-group-urging-inclusion-funding-heating-assistance">letter</a> urging the administration to prioritize programs that provide weatherization assistance for low income households, and Alliance Honorary Advisor Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) and Rep. McKinley led a group similarly <a href="/sites/ase.org/files/fy20_wap_sep_request_final.pdf">supporting</a> the program. These important programs save American consumers and businesses trillions of dollars.</p><p>While it is easy to see the gridlock in Congress, it is encouraging to know that on many important issues that do not make the headlines, real progress is being made by elected representatives from both parties.</p>Thu, 09 May 2019 10:56:28 EDTAlexander Ratner1296615New York State Accelerating Measures to Reduce Gas Demand Through Efficiencyhttps://ase.org/blog/new-york-state-accelerating-measures-reduce-gas-demand-through-efficiency
<p><em>By Donovan Gordon, Director, Clean Heating and Cooling, NYSERDA</em></p><p>In March, Con Edison, which serves the largest number of customers of all of New York’s investor owned utilities, stopped accepting new applications for natural gas service, citing gas constraints in Westchester County, just north of New York City. To assist local municipalities, New York State developed a <a href="https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Programs/Clean-Energy-Action-Plan">Clean Energy Action Plan</a> (Action Plan) – a $250 million investment in clean energy technologies and energy efficiency measures for residents and businesses in Westchester County and Lansing, a town in New York’s Southern Tier also affected by gas constraints, providing immediate relief to residents and businesses in these areas.</p><p>The Action Plan focuses on reducing reliance on fossil fuels overall by increasing awareness and scaling up support of energy efficiency actions, including efficient heating and cooling options, such as ground and air source heat pumps. The Action Plan looks to help lower energy costs for consumers, promote economic development and provide additional resources for community awareness and support around clean energy solutions.</p><p style="text-align:center"><img height="337" width="600" class="media-element" src="/sites/ase.org/files/image-from-nyserda-original-600.png" alt="" /></p><p>The Action Plan is a coordinated effort among the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), New York State Department of Public Service and New York Power Authority, which are collaborating to ensure a wide breadth of services and programs is available to consumers in the affected areas. Building on top of existing statewide programs, the Action Plan includes <a href="https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/About/Newsroom/2019-Announcements/2019-03-14-NYS-Announces-250-Million-Westchester-Clean-Energy-Action-Plan">$250 million in new energy efficient investments</a> in the gas constrained areas and was developed to include a variety of incentives and programs to accelerate the use of clean, efficient energy options. Funding is available for both new and existing multifamily, commercial and industrial customers as well as for low-to-moderate residential developments.</p><p>As part of the Action Plan, the state is also stepping up its partnerships with local leaders and community organizations in Westchester to raise awareness of new and existing programs and support available to consumers through various outreach events and informational webinars. These partnerships are underscoring for residents and businesses the resources available to adopt clean, efficient technologies. It is also showing how multiple agencies and municipalities can work together to advance innovative energy solutions to help local communities. In addition, NYSERDA is launching a community awareness program in the upcoming months to help businesses and homeowners access available programs and incentives for heating their homes and buildings with clean resources and increasing energy efficiency.</p><p>While this Action Plan is focused on Westchester and Lansing, these clean energy solutions are a template for other communities facing similar issues. In addition to the programs highlighted in the Action Plan, NYSERDA offers a suite of energy efficiency programs for building developers, commercial and industrial building owners and residential households interested in reducing energy consumption and move toward cleaner technologies.&nbsp;</p><p>New York State has some of the most ambitious clean energy goals in the country, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030 and reducing cumulative annual site energy consumption by 185 TBtu by 2025 – the equivalent of the energy to fuel and power 1.8 million New York homes annually. New York State will continue to work with local municipalities and other partners to reach these energy targets – and increasing the use of clean, efficient heating and cooling technologies will play a vital role in meeting them.</p>Thu, 02 May 2019 18:14:27 EDTDonovan Gordon1296612Saving Water Goes Hand-in-Hand with Saving Energy. Federal Research Should Capitalize on Their Integration.https://ase.org/blog/saving-water-goes-hand-hand-saving-energy-federal-research-should-capitalize-their-integration
<p>It takes energy to get water, and it takes water to get most energy. We ought to consider them together, because policies that encourage us to use one more efficiently often reduce our need for the other.</p><p>It takes energy to decontaminate the water at your local water utility and even more to pump it to your faucet (about <a href="https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R43200.pdf">80 percent</a> of a drinking water utility’s electricity use). Wastewater treatment facilities use significant energy too. Every gallon of water saved is a gallon that is not <a href="http://www.allianceforwaterefficiency.org/infographiclp.aspx">pumped, treated, or delivered</a> – so saving water means saving energy.</p><p>Water also plays a notably outsized role in power generation. <a href="https://www.watercalculator.org/water-use/the-water-footprint-of-energy/">Most</a> power plants need water both to create steam for turbines as well as for cooling equipment. More than <a href="https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2014/07/f17/Water%20Energy%20Nexus%20Executive%20Summary%20July%202014.pdf">four times</a> as much water is withdrawn to support power generation across the U.S. than is used by our homes and commercial buildings combined. We must think about water efficiency when using energy, just as much as we must think about energy efficiency when using water.</p><h6>Congress Looks to Integrate Federal Research</h6><p>A bipartisan bill <a href="https://science.house.gov/markups/full-committee-markup-of-hr-34">advanced through</a> the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology today would help ensure that the Department of Energy does just that. The <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/34/text">Energy and Water Research Integration Act</a>, sponsored by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) and Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.), would ensure that the Department considers water intensity within its research on energy and water distribution systems. The Alliance, joined by several companies and organizations, has written a <a href="/sites/ase.org/files/final_letter_of_support_for_hr_34.pdf">letter</a> to lawmakers this week in support of the legislation.</p><p>Here are a few examples of energy-water research opportunities – just some of the ways the bill could help trim energy and water use.</p><h6>Tools for Efficiency for Both Water &amp; Energy</h6><p>Buildings codes and appliance and equipment standards are no stranger to the concept of tying together energy savings and water savings. The Department’s minimum energy efficiency standards for water-intensive products (e.g., <a href="https://appliance-standards.org/product/dishwashers">dishwashers</a>, <a href="https://appliance-standards.org/product/clothes-washers">clothes washers</a>) include water efficiency criteria, delivering savings for both water and energy. And ENERGY STAR, a voluntary certification program, similarly considers water efficiency.</p><p>Nevertheless, water efficiency has received far less attention than energy efficiency within codes and standards. With updated standards for water efficiency, water savings could reach an estimated <a href="https://appliance-standards.org/sites/default/files/Next_Gen_Executive_Summary.pdf">770 billion gallons per year by 2035</a>, greater than the water used in one year by all households in Texas. Further research into the impacts of codes and standards can help us achieve massive reductions in water use -- reducing stress on our water and energy distribution systems while saving consumers and businesses money and reducing environmental impacts.</p><h6>Addressing the Gap in Energy-Water Data</h6><p>The proposed legislation has the potential to fill a major hole in our understanding of energy use at water utilities. There is currently a <a href="https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R43200.pdf">lack of information</a> on the energy performance of water utilities, and the level of detail available varies widely. There is an old trope that “you can’t manage what you can’t measure.” Research is needed to develop guidance on best practices for energy data collection at water utilities. More comprehensive and useful energy data collection and reporting could bring clarity to energy use at water utilities, which would make it easier to identify opportunities for energy efficiency.</p><p>Several additional areas of energy-water research could afford greater exploration, including coordination between energy and water utility planners as well as improving the efficiency of water delivery technologies.</p><p>The Energy and Water Research Integration Act would make sure the Department of Energy’s scope is broad enough to consider the energy implications of water and vice versa – and it deserves lawmakers’ support.</p>Wed, 01 May 2019 12:06:00 EDTMikelann Scerbo1296610Growth in Energy Efficiency Demands Investment in a Highly Skilled Workforcehttps://ase.org/blog/growth-energy-efficiency-demands-investment-highly-skilled-workforce
<p><em><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/eeimagedatabase/32129003883/">Photo credit</a>: Marcela Gara, Resource Media</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Workforce development gets a lot of attention in the energy sector, and a recent national energy employment report demonstrates why so many people are talking about it – including in Congress.</p><p>Overall, the American energy sector employs more than 4 percent of the national workforce and outperformed the economy as a whole when it comes to job growth. The sector added 151,700 jobs in 2018, representing 7 percent of all new hires in the U.S., according to the <a href="https://www.usenergyjobs.org/"><strong>U.S. Energy and Employment Report</strong></a>.</p><h6>Efficiency Led the Way in 2018</h6><p>What’s remarkable is that roughly half of those new energy jobs came in energy efficiency. And according to the report – which is based on exhaustive survey data from around the country – there is strong demand for more, especially when it comes to energy efficiency.</p><p>Energy efficiency employed more than 2.3 million Americans in 2018, the report found, projecting a growth rate of 7.8 percent this year.</p><p>In what is both a troubling sign and an enormous opportunity, 84 percent of construction employers in energy efficiency reported that it was somewhat difficult to very difficult to hire new, qualified employees, even with projected growth of more than 8 percent in 2019. Construction represents the largest sector of jobs within energy efficiency, employing more than 1.3 million people.</p><p>The report – an incredibly valuable resource compiled by the National Association of State Energy Officials and the Energy Futures Initiative – shows clearly that the market is ready, and investments in energy efficiency continue to grow, but the current labor force cannot meet the demand largely due to a lack of experience, training, and technical skills across applicants.</p><h6>Progress Toward a “Green Collar” Workforce</h6><p>What can be done to help train an expanding energy efficiency workforce and prevent future worker shortfalls? Many policymakers are recognizing that training programs could help ensure job growth, though they have not agreed on a solution.</p><p>Earlier this month, a U.S. House subcommittee held a hearing focused on a suite of <a href="https://energycommerce.house.gov/committee-activity/hearings/hearing-on-investing-in-america-s-energy-infrastructure-improving-energy"><strong>eight bills</strong></a> aimed at achieving efficient and cost-effective energy infrastructure, buildings, and homes while supporting investment in a diverse, “green collar” workforce.</p><p>One of the featured bills – sponsored by subcommittee chairman Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) – <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1315/text">seeks to prepare a new generation of workers</a>, including in energy efficiency, by creating a nationwide energy workforce development program. The program would invest in improved education and training for energy-related industries, including manufacturing, engineering, construction, and retrofitting jobs. It would focus on underserved groups including women, ethnic and religious minorities, veterans, and unemployed energy workers.</p><p>We hope Congress will find a bipartisan path forward on training the next generation of energy efficiency workers. The evidence indicates that if we do, good jobs and economic opportunity will be there, particularly for underserved communities where unemployment is high. And if we don’t, the lack of skilled workers will act as a limiter of both economic growth and energy efficiency improvements.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>Mon, 29 Apr 2019 10:08:15 EDTBen Evans1296606Happy National Park Week! Here&#039;s What the Park Service is Doing to Reduce Its Energy Usehttps://ase.org/blog/happy-national-park-week-heres-what-park-service-doing-reduce-its-energy-use
<p>It’s <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/national-park-week.htm">National Park Week</a>, the time to celebrate the grandeur of our greatest public lands, dive into our history, and celebrate our rich and diverse culture. Created more than a century ago, the National Park Service today operates <a href="https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/national-park-system.htm">419 areas</a> covering over 85 million acres.</p><p>The Park Service faces a growing challenge in adequately maintaining, preserving, and protecting these national treasures for future generations. With just over 318 million visitors last year alone, coupled with years of insufficient federal funding to address maintenance backlogs, it has never been more important to reduce operating costs and address human and environmental threats to the parks.</p><p>The Park Service has countless projects to improve and protect its parks – but we’re particularly keen on its energy efficiency measures, which not only reduce pollution but have the benefit of reducing daily energy costs. Here are just a few examples of recent or ongoing projects to trim the parks’ energy use:</p><ul><li>Yellowstone National Park – Spanning three states and covering over 2.2 million acres, Yellowstone is both the oldest National Park and the largest energy user in the National Parks system. Hosting over 4 million visitors last year alone, it has <a href="https://www.nps.gov/yell/getinvolved/sustainability.htm">prioritized</a> efficiency and sustainability as one of its core missions. The <a href="https://www.nps.gov/yell/getinvolved/energyconservation.htm">Old Faithful Visitor Center</a>, built in 2010 to accommodate the growing number of visitors, is LEED Gold certified. Yellowstone has also worked with outside groups to improve the energy efficiency of its vehicle fleet, including through the use of hybrid vehicles, low-resistance tires that save fuel, and installation of electric vehicle charging stations at various locations throughout the park. The lodging facilities of Yellowstone are also becoming more efficient, with <a href="https://www.nps.gov/yell/getinvolved/upload/YELL-Sustainability-Report-2017.pdf">pilot programs</a> to incentivize guests to forgo housekeeping services, a move that has the potential to save 150,000 kWh of electricity annually – the equivalent to powering 14 average American homes – and making energy efficient lighting upgrades, including the installation of timers and motion sensors.</li><li>Zion National Park – The Zion National Park Visitor Center, located in Utah, was a collaborative effort between the National Park Service and the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Opened in 2000, its <a href="https://www.nps.gov/zion/learn/nature/upload/DOE%20Brochure.pdf">energy-efficient design</a> utilized insulation to reduce heating energy needs by 70%, natural ventilation, efficient lighting systems, passive down-draft coolers, and a Trombe wall for heating. The visitor center also has solar panels and batteries for any additional electricity needs, and manages the buildings systems through an energy management computer, ensuring system-wide efficiency. Working in <a href="https://cleancities.energy.gov/national-parks/zion">collaboration</a> with the Energy Department, the Park Service has implemented a shuttle bus fleet to transport visitors into and around Zion (eliminating more than 5 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year), increased its electric and hybrid vehicle fleet, and installed electric vehicle charging stations.</li><li>National Capital Region Parks – With a 23-year Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) with Siemens Government Technologies, 13 DC-Maryland-Virginia areas administered by the Park Service will undergo significant energy efficiency upgrades. ESPCs are contracts between a federal agency and an energy service company, where the guaranteed energy savings pay for the project over the length of the contract. After the contract ends, the agency keeps the additional savings. The <a href="https://news.usa.siemens.biz/sites/siemensusa.newshq.businesswire.com/files/blog/additional/NPS_Siemens_Overall_infographic_0.pdf">project</a> is expected to annually save almost 77 million gallons of water, approximately 6.5 million kWh of electricity – enough to power 400 homes – and nearly $2 million in taxpayer dollars. These changes are also projected to reduced carbon emissions by more than 4,000 tons each year, equal to the emissions of 850 cars per year. Efficiency upgrades include utilizing energy efficient lights on the National Mall and installing intelligent lighting systems at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts.</li></ul><p>These are just a few examples of the many projects the National Park Service is undertaking to reduce its energy footprint and use its resources efficiently. Next time you’re visiting a park, keep an eye out for similar efforts.</p><p>And now, in the words of John Muir, the father of the National Parks, “The mountains are calling and I must go.”</p>Wed, 24 Apr 2019 14:14:24 EDTBridget Sobek Dobyan1296604New York City Passes Bold Bill to Slash Buildings&#039; Climate Impacthttps://ase.org/blog/new-york-city-passes-bold-bill-slash-buildings-climate-impact
<p><em>The Climate Mobilization Act is one of the most ambitious actions any city in the world has taken to reduce carbon emissions. Now, the hard work of implementation begins.</em></p><p><em>By Cliff Majersik, Executive Director, <a href="http://www.imt.org">Institute for Market Transformation</a></em></p><p>Today, New York City (NYC) Mayor Bill de Blasio is expected to sign the Climate Mobilization Act, a six-bill package that many are saying is the largest legislative mandate to cut climate pollution by any city in the world. Its centerpiece is <a href="https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3761078&amp;GUID=B938F26C-E9B9-4B9F-B981-1BB2BB52A486">Int. 1253</a>, which requires large buildings to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 and 80% by 2050. On this Earth Day, that’s something to celebrate.</p><p>Buildings account for almost 70 percent of NYC’s carbon pollution. By passing and signing this bill into law, the Mayor, Council Member Costa Constantinides, Council Speaker Corey Johnson, and the Council are demonstrating bold climate leadership. To ensure the vitality of our planet, every city must use energy efficiency and renewable energy in concert to maximize benefits and drive energy use reductions in buildings at a scale and pace as yet unseen in human history.</p><h6>What does the bill mean for different types of buildings?</h6><p>The bill addresses large buildings over 25,000 square feet and phases in caps on greenhouse gas emissions starting in 2024. Each building’s cap is calculated by multiplying its square footage by the emissions intensity limit for its building type. Each building type’s intensity limit is based on the range of current emissions among the NYC buildings of that type. So, for example, building types that use less energy, like warehouses, have lower caps than more intensively occupied building types that use more energy, like apartment buildings.</p><p>Initially, for each building type the buildings with the highest emissions (roughly 20%) will need to make improvements to comply. Starting in 2030, intensity limits will fall and about 75% of buildings will have to make improvements. Emissions caps will fall again in 2035, 2040 and by 2050. A critical question to be answered going forward will be how much building owners will be allowed to purchase renewable electricity to substitute for efficiency improvements to their buildings.</p><h6>What buildings are subject to lower-cost requirements?</h6><p>Certain building types are exempt from the caps, including houses of worship and multifamily buildings with rent-regulated units and other types of affordable housing. Those buildings are required to carry out lower-cost prescribed energy-saving measures, such as insulating pipes and installing thermostats to control radiators. However, those measures typically deliver reductions much smaller than will be required of most buildings subject to the caps.</p><h6>How will the bill be implemented?</h6><p>The Mayor and the Department of Buildings are tasked with leading the bill’s implementation and rulemaking over the coming years. This will not be a light lift and will greatly affect the bill’s impact on emissions, jobs, and health. If implementation successfully harnesses energy efficiency, it will lead to renovations to add insulation, upgrade heating and cooling equipment, replace lighting, fix roofs, and countless other improvements. The Mayor’s Office of Sustainability estimates that the bill will create 23,700 new green jobs by 2030.</p><p>To ensure that responsibility for the work of New York’s energy transition is shared equitably, the bill gives the Department discretion to accommodate technical and financial constraints faced by specific buildings. This authority should be used to address the legitimate concerns that many building owners have voiced in recent days.</p><p>The mayor and the Department won’t be working alone. The bill wisely creates an advisory board with broad stakeholder representation to guide implementation and rulemaking.</p><h6>Why does this matter outside of New York City?</h6><p>The bill’s passage makes NYC the second major U.S. city ever to pass a law that mandates energy use improvements across a wide range of existing buildings. (The District of Columbia was first with the <a href="https://www.imt.org/dc-adopts-nations-strongest-climate-law/">Clean Energy DC Act</a>, which went into effect March 22, 2019.) The District and NYC were leaders in passing the first building energy benchmarking laws in the country. Following their leadership, 27 cities now have similar policies on the books and are seeing positive returns.</p><p>Now, both cities are again leading the charge to ensure buildings are efficient and reducing harmful pollution. Other cities, including the almost <a href="https://www.wearestillin.com/signatories">300 U.S. cities and states</a> who have pledged to uphold the targets of the Paris Agreement, will watch closely to learn from these leaders. IMT stands ready to work with cities around the country to build and improve upon the examples of the early leaders.</p>Fri, 19 Apr 2019 16:44:25 EDTCliff Majersik1296603New Study: Modest Energy Efficiency Measures Could Avert Hundreds of Air Pollution Deaths Each Yearhttps://ase.org/blog/new-study-modest-energy-efficiency-measures-could-avert-hundreds-air-pollution-deaths-each-year
<p>Using energy more effectively has myriad benefits, but reducing air pollution – by demanding less electricity from polluting power plants – can literally prevent illnesses and even deaths. How many? A new study gives us some compelling answers.</p><h6>Beyond End-Of-Pipe Solutions for Reducing Air Pollution</h6><p>The University of Wisconsin-Madison <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.8b06417"><strong>study</strong></a>, published in the Journal of Environmental Science &amp; Technology in March, calculates the air quality improvements and resulting health benefits achievable by reducing electricity generation demand through energy efficiency measures.</p><p>The study examined emissions data on a nationwide basis with a focus on June through August, a time when electricity demand and ozone levels are typically the highest. The authors used EPA’s AVERT tool, which was developed to estimate the benefits of energy efficiency and renewable energy policies using publicly available data, and BenMAP, to complete a multi-layered analysis of air pollution data and health outcomes across several populations.</p><h6>The Findings: Reducing Emissions Through Efficiency Save Lives</h6><p>The researchers modeled the effects of a 12 percent decrease in electricity generation during summertime – a figure based on a 2018 <a href="https://aceee.org/sites/default/files/publications/researchreports/h1801.pdf"><strong>study</strong></a> from ACEEE, which found the number to represent a moderate amount of savings that could be achieved through cost-effective energy efficiency measures. They observed such efficiency measures would result in a more than 13 percent reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions and more than 11 percent reductions in carbon dioxide, as well as decreases in ozone and particulate matter.</p><p>Reducing these pollutants is no small victory; exposure to high levels of ozone and particulate matter are markedly linked to cases of aggravated asthma in children. Decreased exposure to these pollutants can bring down premature mortality as well as multiple adverse health effects including asthma and cardiovascular disease.</p><p>The researchers found these reductions in electricity generation due to energy efficiency measures would result in the avoidance of 475 premature deaths each year, almost two-thirds from reductions in particulate matter and nearly one-third from reduced exposure to ozone. The combined annual estimated value of these health savings amount to approximately $4.4 billion. Nearly 128,000 cases of exacerbated child asthma would also be avoided each year. In reality these numbers could be even higher since the study analyzed impacts solely in the summer months.</p><p>Of course, there are limits to the study’s analysis. It is difficult to predict how the savings from energy efficiency will affect air quality across geographies and time. Accumulated benefits may not correspond with where measures were applied, since power can be generated far away from where it is used. And as this study is nonmeasure specific, it does not take into account the potential variances in air quality impacts that different energy-efficient measures may have based on the timing of when they save electricity.</p><p>However, the study did show that in all states, energy efficiency reduces emissions, with the largest savings predicted in states where electricity generation is dominated by coal, which has significant impacts on air quality. Texas is predicted to see the largest savings for all pollutants while smaller states and those with fewer coal plants may see less dramatic outcomes.</p><h6>Policy Implications: Reducing Disparities, Improving Health</h6><p>More than 40 percent of the U.S. population lives in a county that is <a href="https://www3.epa.gov/airquality/greenbook/popexp.html"><strong>not meeting federal air quality standards</strong></a>. This study showed that by reducing electricity generation demands in the summer months by implementing efficiency measures, many counties would be able to meet those air quality standards.</p><p>We also know that poor air quality doesn’t affect communities equally. A 2018 <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/375289-epa-scientists-find-emissions-greater-impact-low-income-communities"><strong>report</strong></a> from EPA scientists showed that non-white communities had a 28 percent higher health burden from air pollution and that those living below the poverty line had a 35 percent higher burden.</p><p>The air quality impacts of demand-side energy efficiency measures can successfully limit emissions of pollutants and particulate matter, including greenhouse gases in a cost-effective way. Reducing pollution, including through efficiency measures, can potentially help reduce these health disparities – and achieve a healthier environment for all communities.</p>Thu, 18 Apr 2019 12:09:07 EDTCaroline Colan1296601